Pipe-cleaner.



A. C. BEK.

PIPE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.G,1913.

099,541 Patented June 9, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 1

, A. O. BEK.

PIPE GLBANBR. APPLIOTION FILED AUG. 6, 1913. 1,099,541 Patented June 9, 1914 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. C. EEK.

PIPE CLEANER.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. e, 1913.

Patented June 9, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. C. EEK.

PIPE CLEANER.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG..1u1a.

1,099,541 Patented June 9,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET t.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ALBINC. EEK, OF WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 J. ULAHK STREETT .LND GEO-BGE H. SHIELDS, JR., BOTH UF ST. LU'IS, MISSOURI.

PIPE-CLEANER.

Specleaticn of Letters latent.

Application led August 6, 1913. Serial No. 783,349.

To all whom it may conce/rn zen ofthe United States, residing at the city of Webster Groves, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ipe cleaning devices, and contemplates t e provision of novel improvements of the pipe cleaning device that constitutes the sub'cct-mat-ter of the application of Henry W. SerialNo. 754,174, filed March 14, 1913.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described having automatically adjustable means for preventing rotary movement of the drumsupport.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of means for locking the automatically adjustable means for preventing rotary movement of the drumsupport in operative relation with respect to the drum, which locking means, when actuated to release the drum-support, ermits the setting of the automatically adjustable means for preventing rotary movement of the drum-support in inoperative relation with respect to the drum for convenience in mounting the drum upon or removing same from a pipe.

Another object of the resent invention consists in the revision oi novel means for supporting and holding the scale-removing means in engagement with the periphery of the pipe being cleaned.

A further object of the Present invention consists in the provision o improved means for closing and locking the parts of the drum around a pipe.

Further, the present invention consists in the provision of an adjustable bracket for preventing rotary movement of the drumsup ort.

ith these and minor objects in view, the present invention consists of the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter Amore fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part oi this specification, in which like numbers. of reference denote like parts when ever they occur, Figure 1 is a front view of a. pipe cleaner embodying the presentinvention, showing same mounted on a pipe to be cleaned; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the drum, showing same partly closed around a pipe to be cleaned; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the drum completely closed around the pipe; Fig. 6 is perspective View on an enlarged scale of a cutter-supporting in; Fig. 7 is a detailed view off one of the rum closing and locking devices; Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the drum mounted on a ipe to be cleaned and having an alternate crm of the means for preventing .rotary movement of the drum-support; Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10--10, Fig. 8; Fig. 1 1 is a sectional View on the line 11e-11, Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a sectional View on the line 12--12,"1*`ig.` 8; Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line 13-f13, Fig. 9; Fig. 14 is an elevation of the adjustable crank; and Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 1515, Fig. 14.

Thedrum 1 comprises two semior nearly semi-cylindrical members 2 and 3, which are preferably hinged 'together adjacent to the ends thereof b means of bolts 4 or the like, so that the rum can be readily placed around ya pipe 5 to be cleaned and as readily removed from the pipe after the cleaning operation. The free side of the member 2 has relatively deep recesses or notches 6 formed therein adjacent to the ends of same, there being a pin or bolt 7 located in each recess or notch 6 and supporte-d in openings in the side walls osame. Openings 8 are formed in the member 3 adjacentto the free side thereof, which openings register in circumierential alinement with the recesses 6, respectively, in the member 3 when the drum is closed, and have hooks 9 supported therein for engagement with the pins 7, respectively.

Each hook 9 is preferably provided with a bifurcated end, the prongs 10 of which extend into an opening 8 lin thc member 3 and containopenings to receive a pin 11, which has its ends supported `in slots l2 in the side Walls 13 of said opening 8. A lever 14, which is mounted on the pin 11 intermediate the prongs 10 of the hook 9, bears an extension or arm 15 for engagement with a Wear-iron 16, which may be secured in a groove. 17 in the end wall 18 of the opening 8, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and-7. When the handle of the lever 14 is moved outwardly from the memberv 3, the extension 15 moves inwardly away from the' wear-ironl and thereby -permits' the pin llato be movedtoward the end Wall '18 of the opening-8, whereupon the free end of.the--hook-9.canbe moved in- Wardly to catch upon the pinl7 ina reces`s6 in the member 2, when the` 1 is nearly closed arounda pipe 5, asf shown,in Fig. 4. The handle ofthe lever 14j. isvthenjmoved in- 'Wardly .toward the member 43 whereby thel extension 15 of said lever presses against `the Wear-iron 16 and thereby forces the pinv 11 awayfrom the end Wall 18-0f the Vopening 8, with the result of causing the hook 9 -to draw the free sides of the members 2 and 3 together, so'as to close the drum completely. around the. pipe 5,- as depicted. in Fig. 5. `When the lever 14 is movedto the position tocause the hook 9 vto close the drum 1 as just` described, the handle of said lever lies'l 1n a depression' 19v in the outer surface of the member 3, so as to be iush or nearly flush with the outer surface of said member,

and the hook 9 extends throughl a cut-away portion 20 in the endwall 18 of the opening 8, so as to be flush or nearly ush with the outer surfaces of the members 3 and 2. It will be observed that, when the lever 14 occupies the position to causethe hook 9 to lock the free sides of vthe members 2 and 3 together, the extension 1 5. -of saiid lever en= gages the wear-iron 16-at a point outside the '1 ine`th'rough'v theaxes `of the pins 7 and 11,'l

asbest 'seen vin Fig, whereby the tendency of the free sides ofthe members 2 and 3 to move-apart holds said, lever in its locking f position. In order vto lunlock the. free sides lof theirembers .2 and 3, the handle of each lever. 14 is Withdrawn from its depression 19 in the member 3, so as to. move the extension 15 ofv eachylever ,14 inwardly away .from its wear-iron 16, after which the hooks. -9 can be detached from the'pins 11 in an.

obvious manner.

The members 2 and 3 bear semior nearly semi-annular ribs 21, which are located on the outer `surfaces of same adjacent to the ends thereof, each rib 21 containing an opening 22 or a plurality of such openings and,`

also, the usual .scale-discharging opening or openings 23.. Each opening' 22 receives a 'cleaning device, bymeans of'which the scale or other formation or accumulation on the outer surface of the pipes 5 is removed. By

preference, each Vcleaning device consists of a pair of cutters 24, which cutters are revolubly mounted on a pin 25, though, if desired, eachv pinmay have onl one cutter or three lor moreqcutters revo ubly mounted thereon. The end portions of the pin 25 rest in the outer sur-:tace 'of the rib 21v adjacent to the sidewalls of the opening 22 and'have their. opposite sides atte'ned as at "27 to fit closely tothe sides fof the notches 26, so. as to prevent rotary movement offsaid pin, being retainedin; place in said notches bythe ends A It will be observed that eachpin 25 is dis-` posed sothat its axis extends at an'acute angle to a plane perpendicular tov the axis of above-mentioned application. f

The drum 1 is rotated by means of the of the'spring-arms 280i a plate 29.,A Said the drum for the purpose described in the in relatively deep notches 26, respectively,

following mechanism: A pairv of ribs 33 i borne by the member'2.register ain'circumf respectively, borne by member Said 33 are spaced apart fromthe ribs 21, and one of the ribs 33 on member 2 bears'gear-t'eeth 34, which register in circularalinement with gear-teeth 34 on its complementary rib 33 on member 3. Said gear-teeth 34 are preferably beveled, and meshwith a' beveled pin-` ion 35, which is rigidly mounted' onfthel inner end of a shaft 36, theflatter being l-Qllrff naled in ahollow boss 37 borne byfaJ-supporting member 38 and beingpreferably dis-.j posed. at substantially a". .right-angle to# theA axis of the drum 1. The outer end ofthe shaft36 projects from the outer-end ofthe impart rotary movement tothe drum 'l' through the medium of the pinion 3 5 vand longitudinally of the drum lfroin-opposite sides of the shaft 36, and each end ofl Said member 'bearsy a yoke 40 having.v af-semi 0r.

of such grooves in its'innerfacmf one of and receives circularly-alining ribs 42 borne .by members 2 and 3, said ribs 42 being erential alinement with a 'pair"of'-ribs 33,.

boss 37 and bears a vcrank?handle byf'l means -o which the former is rotated y to i the gear-teeth 34. The member-38 extends nearly semifannular groove41 or aplurality the yolresv 40 being adapteditoj straddle. the drum 1 intermediate the ribs`121-a`nd 33"nlea'r'rA one end of the drum,` and the `other yoke'f`40 being adapted to straddle said drum inter.-v v mediate the ribs 21 and 33 near the otherend of the drum; Each groove 41 "is preferably t T-shaped in cross-sectional configuration,

adapted to travel lthrough said lgroovejand, also, being T-shaped in cross-sectional con- 1.

being relatively shorter than the boss 37.

Each end of the member 43 is reducedfto form a pintle 45 on which a roller 46 is revolubly mounted, each roller 46 being preferably relatively wide and bein held in place on its pintle 45 -by a washer 4 and a cotter` pin 48 orother suitable means. The rollers 46 are located at such distances from the drum 1 and are of such size in diameter that, when thedrum 1 is mounted on a pipe 5 to be cleaned and the 'member 43 is held in a position at substantially a right-angle to the axis of the drum 1 as hereinafter described, each roller 46 will stand in position to engage the periphery of or the scale, etc., on a pipe 5 adjacent to the pipe being cleaned,.whereby the pipe or pipesadjacent to the pipe being cleaned will prevent the member 38 from rotating around the drum, the result being that the drum is caused to rotate around the pipe to be cleaned, when the shaft 36 is rotated. The member 43 is mounted on the boss 37, so that it can be reciprocated longitudinally of the latter, and is held normally in a position at substantially a. rightangle to the axis of the drum 1 by means of a bolt 49, which is supported in an opening 50 in the enlargement 44 of the member 43 and is pressed toward the boss 37 by a spring 51, so that its inner end projects into a longitudinal groove 52 in said boss 37. The outer end of the bolt 49 is preferably reduced, and extends through an aperture 53 in the outer wall of the opening 50, a button or knob 54 being secured to same to affordl a means by which the bolt canbe pulled outwardly to withdraw the inner end, of said bolt from the groove 52, so that the member 43 can be rotated on the boss 37 to a position parallelor nearly parallel to the drum 1 for` convenience in mountingthe drum on a pipe 5 'or removing the drum from the pipe. A spring 55, which is interposed between the outer end of the enlarge ment 44 of member 43 and the handle 39,

presses the member 43 toward the drum, so

as to hold the rollers 46 in engagement with the pipes 5 or the scale, etc., on said pipes adjacent to the pipe being cleaned. By this arrangement, the member 43 is free to move away from the drum, in case a roller 46' rides over a bump on a pipe adjacent to the pipe being cleaned and, also, in oase the pipe vEicted in Figs. 8 to 15, inclusive, the memer 43 is omitted entirelyv and inlieu thereof the following adjustable means for preventing rotary movement of the member 38 is provided. The member 38 is somewhat modified, being provided with a central enlarged portion 56 having a vertically `disposed recess or relatively wide groove 57 in its outer face to receive a plate 58, which contains a vertical slot 59, through which the boss 37 extends. The sides of the plate 58 iit closely to the side walls of the recess or groove 57 and thereby prevent rotary movement of said plate as long as same remains in said recess or groove. The thumbnut 60, which tits on the boss 37 and has an internally screw-threaded portion for engagement with an exteriorly screw-threaded portion 'of `the boss 37', affords a means for holding the plate 58 stationary in the recess or groove 57. The plate 58 bears a hollow boss 61 for the reception of a pin 62 borne by the end of the arm 63 of an L-shaped memberl 64, said boss 6 1 being preferably arranged to extend rearwardly from one end of the plate 58. A tongue 65 projects from the front side of the plate '58 into a groove 66 in the rear side of an enlargement 67 on the end of the arm 63 of member 64, so as to prevent rotary movement of the member 64. The pin 62 is locked in place in the boss 61 by means of a bolt 68, which is supported in an opening 69 in the boss 61 and is pressed inwardly by a spring 70, so that the inner end of said bolt projects into an opening 71 in the pin 62, the outer end of said bolt being preferably reduced to extend through an aperture 72 in the outer wall of the opening 69 and bearing a button or knob .73 by means of which the boltv 68 can be drawn outwardly to Withdraw the inner end of the latter from the opening 71, so as to allow the member 64 to be detached from the plate 58 by merely pulling the member 64 forwardly to withdraw the pin 62 from the boss 61. The arm 63 of the member 64 extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 36, and the other arm 74 of said member extends rearwardly in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the shaft. 36 so as to extend between two pipes 5 adjacent to the pipe 5 on which the drum may be mounted, as best seen in Fig. 8. |The. arm 74 of member 64 has a pintle 75 secured `in an opening 76 therein near the arm 63 by means of a set-screw 77 or the like and, also, has apintle 78 detachably supported in an opening 79 therein adjacent controlled bolt 68', which is like the bot to the rear end thereof by means of a sprin 68 hereinabove described and is provided on its outer end with a button 73. Rollers 8O and 81 revolubly mounted on the pintles 75 and 78 are held in place thereon by wash-- ers 82 and Cotter-pins l83 or other suitable means and are adapted for engagement with the front and rear sides, respectively, of a pipe 5 adjacent to the pipe being cleaned, so as to prevent rotary movement of the members 38 and 64.

It will be evident that when the thumbnut 60 is loosened, the plate 58 can be slid upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the member 64, so as to adjust the position of the armv 74 of the member 64 relative to the axis of the drum for various spacings of pipes 5. Furthermore, by loosening the thumb-nut 60 sufliciently to allow the plate 58 to be withdrawn from the recess or groove'57 in the enlargement 56 of the member 38, the plate 58 can be then manually rotated through substantially 180 degrees to move the member 64 from its position above the member 38 to a position below the latter, after which said plate can be clamped in the recess or groove 57 by tightening the thumb-nut. By reason of the pin 62 being locked in the boss 61 of plate 58 by means of the spring-controlled bolt 68 and the pintle 78 being locked in the opening 79 in arm 74 of member 64 by means of the spring-controlled bolt 68 as hereinabove described, these bolts can be actuated to release the pin 62 and pintle 78, so as to allow the member 64 to be detached from the plate 58l andthe pintle 78 to be detachedvfrom the arm 74 for convenience in mounting the drum on a pipe to be cleaned or removing the drum from a pipe.

The crank-handle 84 is preferably formed of two parts 85 and 86, the latter having a longitudinal groove 87 in which the part 86 lis held by means of bolts 88, which bolts pass through openings in the part 86 and a longitudinal slot 89 in the part 85, so that the crank-handle can be lengthened or shortened in an obvious manner. The part 86 of the crank-handle 84 is revolubly mounted on a collar 90, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 36 adjacent to the outer end of same, and is held in place on the collar 90 by an annular flange 91 on the latter and, also, a washer 92 and a nut 98, which is secured to the outer end of said shaft. A pawl 94, which is supported in an opening 95 in the part 86 of the crank-handle 84, is controlled by a spring 96 to cooperate with ratchet-teeth 97 on the collar 90, so as to allow the shaft 36 to be rotated by oscillator movement of the crank-handle 84 when it is impossible to impart complete rotary movement to said crank-handle.

I claim:

1. A pipe cleaner including revoluble .ing means, means borne cleaning means adapted to encircle the pipe, means for rotatably supporting said cleanby said supporting means for rotating said cleaning means, and means adjustably supported by said supporting means so as to be capable of swinging movement toward and away from a support to hold said supporting means against rotation.

2. A pipe cleaner including revoluble cleaning means adapted to encircle the pipe, means for rotatably supporting said cleaning-means, means borne by said supporting means for rotating said cleaning means, and spring-controlled means supported by said supporting means adapted for engagement with a support to hold said supporting means against rotation.

3. .A pipe cleaner including revoluble cleaning means adapted to encircle the pipe, means for rotatably supporting said cleaning means, means borne by said supporting means for rotating said cleaning means, spring-controlled vmeans supported by said supporting means adapted for engagement with a support to hold said supporting means against rotation, Vand releasable means for locking said spring-controlled means in operative relation with respect to the suport.

p 4. A pipe cleaner including a revoluble drum adapted to encircle the pipe and having cleaning means, a member adapted to rotatably support said drum and having an extension, means carried by said member so as to be capable of being rotated relative thereto and for rotating said drum, and means supported by the extension on said member adapted for movement into and out of engagement with a support to hold said member against rotation.

5. A pipe cleaner including a revoluble drum adapted to encircle the pipe and having cleaning means, a member adapted to rotatably support said drum and having an extension, means carried by said member for rotating said drum', and spring-controlled means supported by the extension O11 said member adapted for engagement with a support to hold said member against rotation.

6. In a pipe cleaner including a revoluble drum adapted to encircle the pipe and having cleaning means, a member ,adapted to rotatably support said drum and having an extension, means carried by said member for rotating said drum, spring controlled means supported by the lextension .on said member adapted for engagement with a support to hold said member against rotation, and releasable means for locking said spring-controlled means against rotation on the extension on said member.

7. A pipe cleaner including a revoluble -drum adapted to encircle the pipe and having cleaning means, a member `adapted to rotatably support said drum and having a hollow extension, means revolubly supported in said extension :for rotating said. drum, and a spring-controlled element. supported by said extension and having means for engagement with a support to hold said member against rotation.

8. A pipe cleaner including a revoluble drum adapted to encircle the pipe and having cleaning means, a member adapted to rotatably support said drum and having a hollow extension, means revolubly supported in said extension for rotating said drum, a spring-controlled element supported by said extension, and a roller carried by said element adapted for engagement with a support to hold said member against rotation.

9. A pipe cleaner including a -revoluble drum adapted to encircle the pipe and having cleaning means, a member adapted to rotatably support said drum and having a hollow extension, means revo-lubly supported in said extension for rotating said drum, a spring-controlled element supported by said extension, a roller carried by said element adapted for engagement with a support to hold said member against rotation, and means for locking said element against rotation on said extension.

10. vA l pipe cleaner including revoluble cleaning means adapted to encircle the pipe, means adapted to rotatably support said cleaning means, means carried by said supporting means for rotating said cleaning means, a member adjustably secured to said supporting means so as to be capable of being swung toward and away from a support, and mea-ns carried by said member adapted for engagement with the support to.

hold said. supporting means against rotation.

11. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, and means capable of rotation connected to the supporting means and adapted for movement into and out of engagement with a stationary support to hold the supporting means against rotation.

12. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, and means capable of rotation connected to the supporting means and adapted for movement into and out of engagement with a plurality of spaced stationary points to hold the supporting means against rotation.

13. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, a projection on said supporting means, pipe engaging means mounted on said projection so. as to be capable of manual rotation relative thereto to thereby be moved into and out of engagement with the pipe that said last named means engages, and displaceable means to positively hold said pipe engaging means against rotation relative to said projection.

14. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle lthe pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, a hollow extension on sald supporting means, pipe engaging means rotatably and longitudinally movable on said extension, releasable means to positively hold the pipe engaging means against rotation, but to allow `same to 'have longitudinal movement relative to the extension, a shaft passed through the hollow extension, means on the inner end of the shaft to rotate the carrier, means on the outer end of the shaft for rotating the latter, and a spring between the pipe engaging means and the shaft rotating means.

15. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, a hollow extension on said supporting means, pipe engaging means rotatably and longitudinally movable on said extension, releasable means to positively hold the pipe engaging means against rotation, a shaft passed through the hollow extension, means on the inner end of the shaft to actuate the carrier, and means on the outer end of the shaft to actuate the latter.

16. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, an extension on said supporting means, and pipe engaging means mounted on the extension so as to be capable of rotation relative to the extension and also capable of movement longitudinally of the extension.

17. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier` adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, and spring controlled means adapted to be resiliently held in engagement with a relatively stationary support to prevent movement of the su porting means.

18. A pipe c eaner including 'a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolubly support said carrier, spring controlled means adapted to be resiliently held in engagement with a relatively stationary support to prevent movement of the supporting means, said spring controlled means being capable of manual rotation, and displaceable means to hold the spring controlled means against rotation.

19. A pipe cleaner including a cleaning means carrier adapted to encircle the pipe, means to revolublv support said carrier, means carried by the supporting means to engage a stationary support to hold the supporting means against rotation, means whereby the stationary support engaging In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my means may have movement relative to the signature in the presence of two witnesses. stationary support so as to permit same to be applied to and removed from the pipe, ALBIN C EEK' and means to hold the stationary support Vitnesses:

engaging means against movement relative GEQRGE G. ANDERSON, to said stationary support. WALTER C. GUELS. 

